ReElement Starts Rare Earth Shipments, Eyes Expansion in Indiana and Africa

ReElement

U.S. Refiner Targets Antimony Market as China Cuts Off Exports

ReElement Technologies has officially commenced commercial shipments of magnet-grade rare earth oxides, signaling a major milestone for the Indiana-based critical minerals refiner. Operating from its 700m² Noblesville facility, the company recovers both light and heavy rare earth elements from recycled feedstock such as end-of-life permanent magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Daily production capacity at Noblesville ranges from 5–10 kilograms of rare earth oxides and 15–25 kilograms of battery-grade lithium carbonate. Although initial shipment volumes remain undisclosed, the move marks a pivotal step in ReElement’s scale-up strategy.

Marion Plant to Scale RE and Lithium Refining by Year-End

To meet rising demand, ReElement is transitioning operations to its new 50,000m² refinery in Marion, Indiana. The first phase, expected to go online by year-end 2025, will enable annual production of 2,000 metric tonnes (t) of rare earth oxides and 5,000t of lithium carbonate or hydroxide.

Crucially, Marion will process feedstock not only from recycled materials but also from ore sources—broadening ReElement’s flexibility and competitiveness. This diversification aligns with U.S. government efforts to localize critical minerals supply chains amid geopolitical disruptions.

African JV Targets New Refining Capacity and Localized Supply

ReElement is also expanding globally through a $100 million joint venture with South Africa’s Novare Holdings. The two firms plan to build critical mineral refining capacity across Africa, starting with site development in the second half of 2025.

Under the agreement, ReElement will deploy its proprietary chromatography-based separation technology, while Novare provides funding and local operational oversight. Feedstock for the African facility will come from domestic and regional sources. Capacity figures have not yet been finalized.

ReElement Enters Antimony Market Amid Chinese Export Ban

In response to China’s ban on antimony exports to the U.S., ReElement is moving aggressively into antimony refining. The company will process ore sourced from a South African supplier into antimony sulfide and antimony oxide, with commercial-scale production slated for the Marion plant.

ReElement has already processed sample ore at Noblesville, and it expects to begin refining 1,000t/month initially. The company also plans to co-locate modular refining units near downstream military manufacturers that use antimony-containing materials.

This move positions ReElement to fill a critical supply gap in the U.S. antimony market while tapping into high-margin opportunities in defense applications.